Understanding HTML Entities
HTML entities provide a way to display reserved characters, ensuring they render correctly. Characters like '<' can create confusion if not displayed accurately. HTML offers both entity names and numbers for symbols not found on standard keyboards (e.g., €, ¥, ©), resolving confusion and ensuring precise representation.
Syntax
Entities can be expressed using:
- &entity_name;
- entity_number;
Note: Entity names are case-sensitive.
Table of Contents
Entity Names and Numbers
Here are some useful symbols along with their entity names and numbers:
Notation | Symbols | Entity Name | Entity Number |
---|
non-breaking space | | | |
< | < | less than | < |
® | ® | registered trademark | ® |
© | © | copyright | © |
€ | € | euro | € |
¥ | ¥ | yen | ¥ |
£ | £ | pound | £ |
¢ | ¢ | cent | ¢ |
" | " | double quotation mark | " |
Reserved Characters
These characters are reserved for HTML or are not available on the basic keyboard. Some representations of reserved characters include:
Other Characters
Some characters cannot be typed directly on our keyboard, so we can represent them using their entity numbers. The '#' symbol before the numbers indicates hexadecimal representation:
- > - ≥
- © - ©
- € - €
- ∃ - ∃
Advantages and Disadvantages of HTML Entities
Advantages
Entity names are often easy to remember, making them a practical choice for developers.
Disadvantages
Some browsers might not support all entity names; therefore, using entity numbers can be a more reliable option.
Non-breaking Space
This entity is used to create a space that will not break into a new line. Represented as , it ensures that two words remain together without line breaks. It is also useful for preventing browsers from truncating spaces in HTML pages.
Combining Diacritical Marks
A diacritical mark is a glyph added to a letter. Marks like grave (`) and acute (´) can appear above or below a letter. They can be combined with alphanumeric characters to generate characters not present in the encoding used on the page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a Text to HTML Converter?
A Text to HTML Converter tool transforms plain text into HTML format, ensuring proper display and functionality for web applications.
Why use HTML entities?
HTML entities are essential for displaying reserved characters correctly, preventing confusion and ensuring accurate rendering in web browsers.
How do I use the Text to HTML Converter tool?
Simply paste your text into the converter tool, and it will generate the corresponding HTML code for you to use.
Are there any limitations to using HTML entities?
Some browsers may not support all entity names, so it's safer to use entity numbers for guaranteed compatibility.